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Flashbacks
A collection of memories about growing up hippie in Toronto, during one of the most interesting periods of the 20th century. Not mention the sex, drugs and rock and roll…
Morgan Smith was only twelve during the Summer of Love, but her parents had plunged headlong into the Age of Aquarius, and she was no mere bystander. From paisley shirts to protest rallies and from Be-Ins to hash brownies, she lived through one of the most ground-breaking and outright joyous periods of the 20th century as a participant, and through her memories, she shares what it was like to watch the world change.
Morgan Smith was only twelve during the Summer of Love, but her parents had plunged headlong into the Age of Aquarius, and she was no mere bystander. From paisley shirts to protest rallies and from Be-Ins to hash brownies, she lived through one of the most ground-breaking and outright joyous periods of the 20th century as a participant, and through her memories, she shares what it was like to watch the world change.
- GenresNonfiction
Unknown Binding
First published October 20, 2018
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
November 28, 2021
Morgan Smith has a way with words. In the author’s coming of age memoir, about growing up in the ‘60s in Toronto, she weaves a tapestry of words, a kaleidoscope of psychedelic experiences. All are grounded in her upbringing by her progressive parents who routinely marched for peace, and for civil rights, bringing along their young daughter as both witness and participant.
The book is built from chronological anecdotes that display how her parents imbued her
with their values, such as providing temporary housing for draft dodgers and deserters. Other snapshots demonstrate how even at a young age the author had absorbed her parents’ ethics. The story of her kindergarten classmates standing up to their anti-semitic teacher was both shocking (the bigotry) and delightful (the civil disobedience of 5-year olds). The children eventually devolved into tears, perhaps the more age-appropriate response than their impressive philosophical stance.
“We burst into tears, wailing in utter terror at this complete loss of stability in our world.”
While the author experienced this brief exposure to an evil teacher, and more typical school bullying, her true loss of stability in her world came a few years later upon learning that her mother was dying.
“There were the long stints of hospitalization for my mother as doctors tried to find chemical and surgical solutions to the time-bomb ticking inside her.”
I consider the great strength of Morgan’s memoir is how alive her mother is on the page. This woman was a force of nature, secure in her beliefs, and unflagging in her work to make the world a better place; one that matched her vision of peace, equality, and fairness. My favorite moment was when her mother retells the incident of her getting arrested at a protest rally for hitting a copy with her sign. But she contends it was accidental, as she adjusted the sign under her arm freeing her hands to help someone who had fallen and inadvertently nicked “the cop standing over someone he was beating with a nightstick.” She was a pacifist after all.
Facing her mother’s death was an excruciating journey for the author and her father. “Look: no amount of time eases this. My mother died before I could know her as one woman to another, and that is a pain that can’t be measured.” Everyone responds to death in their own personal ways, and this is embroidered into the chapter called Funeral Games replete with the somber tenor of loss and balanced with humor for navigating the grief.
Memoir continues to be my favorite genre as I recognize the courage it takes for authors to share such deep and personal aspects of themselves. I also believe this sharing is important because when it resonates with readers, we feel less alone in the world. I find myself marveling at how this author knew herself quite well early in her life, owing to the guidance of her parents. What a tremendous gift.
Morgan Smith is also an author of fantasy novels. Check out her author profile on Amazon and links to her other books below. As an Amazon Associate, I may earn a commission from purchases through these links.
The book is built from chronological anecdotes that display how her parents imbued her
with their values, such as providing temporary housing for draft dodgers and deserters. Other snapshots demonstrate how even at a young age the author had absorbed her parents’ ethics. The story of her kindergarten classmates standing up to their anti-semitic teacher was both shocking (the bigotry) and delightful (the civil disobedience of 5-year olds). The children eventually devolved into tears, perhaps the more age-appropriate response than their impressive philosophical stance.
“We burst into tears, wailing in utter terror at this complete loss of stability in our world.”
While the author experienced this brief exposure to an evil teacher, and more typical school bullying, her true loss of stability in her world came a few years later upon learning that her mother was dying.
“There were the long stints of hospitalization for my mother as doctors tried to find chemical and surgical solutions to the time-bomb ticking inside her.”
I consider the great strength of Morgan’s memoir is how alive her mother is on the page. This woman was a force of nature, secure in her beliefs, and unflagging in her work to make the world a better place; one that matched her vision of peace, equality, and fairness. My favorite moment was when her mother retells the incident of her getting arrested at a protest rally for hitting a copy with her sign. But she contends it was accidental, as she adjusted the sign under her arm freeing her hands to help someone who had fallen and inadvertently nicked “the cop standing over someone he was beating with a nightstick.” She was a pacifist after all.
Facing her mother’s death was an excruciating journey for the author and her father. “Look: no amount of time eases this. My mother died before I could know her as one woman to another, and that is a pain that can’t be measured.” Everyone responds to death in their own personal ways, and this is embroidered into the chapter called Funeral Games replete with the somber tenor of loss and balanced with humor for navigating the grief.
Memoir continues to be my favorite genre as I recognize the courage it takes for authors to share such deep and personal aspects of themselves. I also believe this sharing is important because when it resonates with readers, we feel less alone in the world. I find myself marveling at how this author knew herself quite well early in her life, owing to the guidance of her parents. What a tremendous gift.
Morgan Smith is also an author of fantasy novels. Check out her author profile on Amazon and links to her other books below. As an Amazon Associate, I may earn a commission from purchases through these links.
June 27, 2018
Such a great book! Morgan has such a great writing style and her memoir is definitely worth the read!! I’m so happy I had the opportunity to read this!
March 28, 2019
I thoroughly enjoyed the reality and humor and honesty in her writing. I only gave this book a 3 star because I was hoping it would have more about the activism that she was involved in but found it to be more of a personal memoir. To me, the description and understanding of the author was a bit misleading.
December 28, 2019
I wasn't sure what to expect when I dove into this book... I certainly didn't think I'd read a memoir that would be perfect for a movie adaptation, yet here I am, smiling, chuckling, and enjoying this book a ton. Morgan Smith offers a very compelling read where you will find out things that'll make your eyes pop open as well as occasionally tear up. It's honest, it's sweet, and it offers a different perspective of the 60's from the viewpoint of a kid growing up with hippie parents, tons of books, and coming to terms with life, death, drugs, sexuality, sex, gender, peace, war, and any other topic that might be of note from that decade. It's candid yet not in your face. It's honest, but never rude. It's a great read and a great surprise in my 2019 reads.
June 14, 2018
I closed the last page...and thought, Brilliant!
June 15, 2020
Wish I knew her then
Sometimes you read someone else's life so you can remember yours. A tear shed more than once. Time missed but pick upped in this book.
Sometimes you read someone else's life so you can remember yours. A tear shed more than once. Time missed but pick upped in this book.
November 23, 2015
Since I'm just a few years older than the author, I was interested in reading this and see how her memories compared to my own. I was very pleased with this book. The writing is terrific and the anecdotes were both familiar and often jogged my own memories of the sixties.
Since the author lived in Canada growing up, it was a new perspective for me. Her father was a university professor and her mother was an activist. This gave the author quite a bit of freedom for a young girl, but that was what those times were about. This is a very enjoyable read and I highly recommend it.
Since the author lived in Canada growing up, it was a new perspective for me. Her father was a university professor and her mother was an activist. This gave the author quite a bit of freedom for a young girl, but that was what those times were about. This is a very enjoyable read and I highly recommend it.
November 16, 2015
Not usually a 'memoir' kid of reader, but I actually really liked this book. Well worth the read!!!
March 29, 2017
Along with Benjamin Franklin, Anne Frank, and Henry David Thoreau, you should add Morgan Smith. Flashbacks by Morgan Smith has the two key attributes of a "must read" memoir. First, it is placed in an interesting time. In this case, the 1960s. But most important, a fascinating person has written it, one who is simultaneously unique and universal.
The author's grade school education (elementary through high school) encompassed the 1960s. As she recounts her life, she casts a bright light on the not only her cohort but also the cohort of her parents. People decades older than the author will recognize themselves, their parents, and their children. On one level this is a memoir of the 60s from the point of view of a precocious child. This is a story of the childhood that many wished for.
In kindergarten, the author organized a mini-protest against an antisemitic teacher. Here is a story of the ur-demonstration of civil disobedience organized by innocent children. Her mother's response?
"She emphasized that I did the right thing by not listening to Teacher and standing up for Justice, even if, normally, disobeying Teacher would be wrong."
Isn't this the story we all wish we could tell, and we all want to celebrate we live in a world where this story can be believed.
To add to the idyllic story...
"Life in my home operated on two basic principles: Benign Neglect and Books."
For a celebration of intelligent, independent children, this is a memoir for the ages.
For much more: http://1book42day.blogspot.com/2017/0...
The author's grade school education (elementary through high school) encompassed the 1960s. As she recounts her life, she casts a bright light on the not only her cohort but also the cohort of her parents. People decades older than the author will recognize themselves, their parents, and their children. On one level this is a memoir of the 60s from the point of view of a precocious child. This is a story of the childhood that many wished for.
In kindergarten, the author organized a mini-protest against an antisemitic teacher. Here is a story of the ur-demonstration of civil disobedience organized by innocent children. Her mother's response?
"She emphasized that I did the right thing by not listening to Teacher and standing up for Justice, even if, normally, disobeying Teacher would be wrong."
Isn't this the story we all wish we could tell, and we all want to celebrate we live in a world where this story can be believed.
To add to the idyllic story...
"Life in my home operated on two basic principles: Benign Neglect and Books."
For a celebration of intelligent, independent children, this is a memoir for the ages.
For much more: http://1book42day.blogspot.com/2017/0...
May 4, 2017
This book gives you a glimpse into the past in the 60’s era, where the hippie lifestyle was the in thing, the author categorically stated that it was an unreliable memory. All the same this insight into the hippie culture while the author was growing up is an eye opener to say the least. The author also gave an insight into how much she was hurting concerning her mother’s battle with cancer, her ins and out of the hospital and her death. It shows how lapse parents were in that period and how lapse the law was at that period as well. Kids didn’t care much about anything except partying, getting high and riding along on the peace train protesting. Be it as it may, this book is truly an eye opener of how things were back then. This author has a unique way of telling her story, she didn’t sugar coat the acts and things they did then, she tried to keep it real even though it’s supposed to be “unreliable”.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews